Zhang Weili is one of the most dominant forces in women’s MMA, known for her explosive power and resilience in the UFC. She’s made history as the first Chinese UFC champion and keeps stacking wins against top competition as of early 2026.
Zhang Weili’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Zhang Weili |
| Nickname | Magnum |
| Date of Birth | August 13, 1989 |
| Age | 36 |
| Birthplace | Handan, Hebei, China |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed (likely Buddhist influences) |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Height | 5’4″ (162 cm) |
| Weight Class | Strawweight (115 lbs); competes at Flyweight |
| Reach | 63″ (160 cm) |
| Gym/Team | Beijing Black Tiger Fight Club |
| Professional Debut | November 2013 |
| Current Ranking | #1 UFC Women’s Strawweight, #3 P4P |
| MMA Record | 27-3 (UFC 9-2) |
| Net Worth | ~$3-5 million (2026 est.) |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Spouse | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
| Instagram Profile | @zhangweilimma |
Early Career
Zhang kicked off martial arts at age 6 with Shaolin Kung Fu, inspired by movies, then switched to Sanda and Shuai Jiao by 12. She won Hebei province titles but quit due to back injuries. Pro MMA debut came in November 2013 at China MMA League, where she lost her first fight to Meng Bo by decision.
Bouncing back hard, she racked up 26 straight wins, dominating Kunlun Fight as Women’s Strawweight Champion with KOs, subs, and TKOs against folks like Karla Benitez and Liliya Kazak.
Professional Career
Zhang burst into UFC at UFC 227 in 2018, decisioning Danielle Taylor, then subbed Jessica Aguilar quick. She KO’d Jessica Andrade in 42 seconds for the strawweight title in 2019, sparking title reign chaos with epic wars against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248—widely called women’s MMA’s best fight ever, split decision win.
Losses to Rose Namajunas stung, but she reclaimed gold subbing Carla Esparza at UFC 281, KO’d Joanna again, then decisions over Amanda Lemos and Yan Xiaonan. In 2025, she beat Tatiana Suarez unanimous at UFC 312 and went five rounds with Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322, losing decision but proving flyweight chops. Now 27-3 overall, 9-2 in UFC, she’s won 5 of her last 6 with 11 KOs and 8 subs career-wide.
Zhang Weili’s Net Worth Details
As of 2025, Zhang’s net worth sits around $3-5 million, fueled by UFC paydays, PPV shares, and growing brand deals. Her 2025 haul alone topped $3.3 million from two big fights, pushing past earlier $1.5-2 million estimates. This covers Octagon earnings over $1.5 million UFC-plus, investments, and off-fight income—no flashy spending, just smart growth.
Fight Purses
| Fight/Event | Base Purse | Win Bonus | PPV/Sponsors/Total Est. |
| UFC 292 vs. Lemos (2023) | $520,000 | N/A | $520,000+ |
| UFC 322 vs. Shevchenko (Nov 2025) | $400,000 | N/A | $700K-$1.1M |
| UFC 312 vs. Suarez (Feb 2025) | ~$350,000 | N/A | Part of $3.37M 2025 total |
| UFC 300 vs. Yan (2024) | ~$300,000 | N/A | $500K+ est. |
| UFC 281 vs. Esparza (2022) | $250,000 | N/A | $350K+ est. |
Career Earnings
| Period/Total | Amount | Breakdown Notes |
| UFC Total (to 2025) | $728,500+ | Base + bonuses |
| Pre-UFC (Kunlun etc.) | ~$770,000 | 20+ fights est. |
| 2025 Earnings | $3,374,000 | Suarez + Shevchenko |
| Career MMA Total Est. | $5-6M+ | Incl. PPV, sponsors to 2026 |
| Projected 2026 | +$1M+ | Defenses + deals |
Endorsements
Zhang cashes in big on endorsements that fit her champ image. She reps Under Armour for gear, Heilan Home and Perfect Sports in China, plus BCAA Nutrition. Newer deals include Paradigm agency for film and brands since 2025, and Venum, HyperIce, Crypto.com. These add $500K+ yearly, boosting her appeal in Asia and globally—no exact 2026 figures public, but they fuel her wealth outside fights.
Achievements
| Title/Achievement | Date/Event | Details |
| UFC Strawweight Champion (1st reign) | Aug 2019 (UFC Shenzhen) | KO’d Jessica Andrade 42s |
| UFC Strawweight Champion (2nd reign) | Nov 2022 (UFC 281) | Sub Carla Esparza Rd2 |
| Kunlun Fight Women’s Strawweight Champ | 2016-2018 | Multiple defenses |
| Fight of the Night (vs. Jedrzejczyk) | Mar 2020 (UFC 248) | Split decision classic |
| Performance of the Night (vs. Esparza) | Nov 2022 (UFC 281) | Title win sub |
| First Chinese UFC Champion | 2019 | Historic |
| 26-fight win streak | Post-2013 debut loss | 11 KOs, 8 subs |
Fight Record
| Date/Event | Opponent | Result | Method/Rd:Time | Notes |
| Nov 2025/UFC 322 | Valentina Shevchenko | Loss (Unan Dec) | 5/5:00 | Flyweight title challenge |
| Feb 2025/UFC 312 | Tatiana Suarez | Win (Unan Dec) | 5/5:00 | Title defense |
| Apr 2024/UFC 300 | Yan Xiaonan | Win (Unan Dec) | 5/5:00 | China vs. China |
| Aug 2023/UFC 292 | Amanda Lemos | Win (Unan Dec) | 5/5:00 | Top purse |
| Nov 2022/UFC 281 | Carla Esparza | Win (Sub) | RNC/2:1:05 | Regain title |
| Jun 2022/UFC 275 | Joanna Jedrzejczyk | Win (KO/TKO) | 2:2:28 | POTN |
| Nov 2021/UFC 268 | Rose Namajunas | Loss (Split Dec) | 5/5:00 | Title rematch |
| Apr 2021/UFC 261 | Rose Namajunas | Loss (KO/TKO) | 1:1:18 | Title loss |
| Mar 2020/UFC 248 | Joanna Jedrzejczyk | Win (Split Dec) | 5/5:00 | FOTN, epic |
| Aug 2019/UFC Shenzhen | Jessica Andrade | Win (KO/TKO) | 1:0:42 | Won title |
FAQs
1. Who is Zhang Weili?
Zhang Weili is a Chinese professional MMA fighter, former two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion, and the first Chinese fighter to win a UFC title. She competes primarily in the strawweight division with a record of 26 wins and 4 losses.
2. What is Zhang Weili’s age and birthday?
Zhang Weili was born on September 30, 1990, making her 35 years old. She began martial arts training at age 6 in Handan, Hebei, China.
3. How tall is Zhang Weili and what is her reach?
Zhang Weili stands at 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) tall with a 63-inch reach. These measurements suit her strawweight division, aiding her agility and grappling.
4. What is Zhang Weili’s professional MMA record?
Zhang Weili has a 26-4 professional record, with 11 knockouts, 8 submissions, and 7 decisions. She lost her debut but won 26 of her next 28 fights.
5. When did Zhang Weili debut in the UFC?
Zhang Weili debuted in the UFC on August 4, 2018, at UFC 227, defeating Danielle Taylor by unanimous decision. She has 10 UFC wins overall.
6. What championships has Zhang Weili won?
Zhang Weili won the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship twice: first against Jéssica Andrade in 2019, regained against Carla Esparza in 2022. She made four successful defenses and held Kunlun Fight and Top FC titles earlier.
7. What are Zhang Weili’s notable UFC fights?
Key fights include her first title win over Andrade (TKO, 42 seconds), split decision defense vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk at UFC 248 (Fight of the Year), KO rematch win over Jędrzejczyk, and submission over Esparza. She lost to Rose Namajunas twice and recently to Valentina Shevchenko at flyweight.
8. What is Zhang Weili’s fighting style and nickname?
Nicknamed “Magnum,” Zhang Weili fights with a switch stance, blending Sanda, Shuai Jiao, kickboxing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (brown belt). She emphasizes adaptability, inspired by Bruce Lee’s “be water” philosophy.
9. What is Zhang Weili’s background and early career?
From Handan, China, Zhang trained in Shaolin Kung Fu, Sanda, and Shuai Jiao before odd jobs in Beijing. She turned pro in 2013 after joining Black Tiger Fight Club, winning Kunlun Fight Strawweight title in 2017.
10. What recent fights has Zhang Weili had?
Zhang defended her strawweight title with unanimous decisions over Yan Xiaonan (UFC 300, 2024), Amanda Lemos (UFC 292, 2023), and Tatiana Suarez (UFC 312, 2025). She vacated it in 2025 and lost a flyweight title bid to Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322.